A GREENOCK man absconded from hospital then assaulted his partner and struggled violently with police.

Angus Tait, 50, was found wandering the streets around Inverclyde Royal 'showing signs of confusion' and 'hostile and erratic behaviour', the sheriff court was told.

A police cell van took Tait back to the hospital along with his partner, who been on her way to visit him.

A fiscal depute told the court: "A property nearby the hospital was his previous address and he still believed he resided there.

"It was confirmed he was an in-patient at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and had absconded.

"He was placed in handcuffs for his own and officers' safety."

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The prosecutor added: "The accused was taken to hospital and left in the company of his partner and hospital staff and no further police action was required.

"At this time his behaviour was calm.

"As police were ready to leave the ward they heard a commotion and saw the witness facing away from the accused. He had his hand around the back of her neck.

"Police intervened to calm him and he lashed out and kicked out at police.

"He wasn't formally cautioned and charged at the time due to his erratic behaviour."

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Tait committed the offences on May 3 last year.

He also later breached a court bail order when he was found with the woman last October after being ordered by a sheriff not to approach or contact her.

Solicitor Gerry Keenan said: "His presence in the company of the complainer was entirely consensual. The relationship is now over. There is no further contact between them.

"A psychiatrist report concluded there is no evidence to suggest his behaviour was down to past seizure activity.

"He says he has not consumed alcohol for three years but suffers from the residual effects of alcohol abuse on a daily basis."

Unpaid work was ruled out as a potential punishment 'because of the difficulty he has with seizures', Mr Keenan added.

Sheriff Craig Findlater sentenced Tait, of Regent Street, to a community payback order with a requirement for 18 months of supervision.

He will be restricted to his home address between 7pm and 7am each night for 36 days, while an 18-month non-harassment order was also imposed.

Tait was also fined £100.